To ask if you free birthed?

I had no set plans going in as you never know what will happen, and I think that’s sensible due to the unpredictable nature of the situation.

Dilated to 8cms, he never turned, his heart rate dropped significantly as he had stopped progressing, I was losing blood.

Opted in for the emergency c-section as I wanted us both to be okay. Turns out the cord was wrapped around him, therefore a vaginal birth would never have happened.

Overall, I had a lovely experience at the hospital and it was all rather calm. The midwives and doctors were caring, and prioritised our wellbeing. I’m grateful we had them. My primary concern was my child, and that meant doing my best to be available to him too. You are all your dc know when they arrive in this world.

If you’re set on not going to hospital, I’d ensure I was near a hospital and at the very least have a doula.

No way in hell. Please look up some reliable statistics!!

Is she certainly having a 'free birth' rather than a 'home birth'?

I think this has come over from the US, where they don't have midwifes in most states and home births are often illegal. So there choice over there is often hospital birth, some states do have birthing centers but they aren't everywhere or to free birth at home it's become a bit of a crazy. Some women will hire unregistered birthing assistants (I watch to much YouTube).

So I'm assuming so women here when they have been refused a home birth are looking at these people and thinking that they could do that to. 🤔
They are idiots 🙄, home birth with midwife presents fine. They have assessed you first to see if your low risk. Free birthing intentionally on your own, don't be daft. I mean I know the odd person who hasn't made it to the hospital on time, but that is slightly different and normally they have already rung for help.

I was a transfer to hospital with my first after starting off at home. She was back to back and wasn't progressing, long labour, ended up in theatre prepped for forceps, she had her shoulders stuck. Wouldn't have got her out at home.

Hmmm yeah 3 out of 4 were somewhere between BBA and free birth. I didn’t really think of them as free births until my best mate suggested it was always going to be so and I recognised what she said as probably true.

Shockingly skydiving is roughly 10 times safer than giving birth with full medical attention.

Mortality rate is roughly 1 in 100,000 for skydiving.
13 in 100,000 for mothers giving birth making use of modern medicine.

The “natural” death rate is about 1 in 10.

And most interesting of all - it hit 1 in 3 in America when doctors (who were also pathologists and not keen on washing their hands) first got involved.

So….if you like living make full use of modern medicine but make sure they wash their hands first.

Or take up sky diving instead…..

Can I ask on your training and experience with this list please?

Massive PPH
Eclamptic Fit
Cord Prolapse
Shoulder Dystocia
Placental Abruption
Maternal collapse
Neonatal Resuscitation

Can you also expand further on what we would be surprised by after taking the course to deal with obstetric and neonatal emergencies that can arise in any labour/birth.

I was low risk with my first. Everything was fine and progressed well until she had shoulder dystocia. It was a truly terrifying few minutes and the outcome would have been very different even if we'd been at home.

No. I wanted a low intervention water birth and ended up with a five day labour failed induction ending in emergency section. The opposite of what I wanted but it was fine. The idea of ‘free birthing’ is truly insane. You are giving your own and your baby’s life up to basically pure luck. And we know that it’s not even great odds you will be ok. Don’t even consider it!

I did know someone who attempted this. The baby died.

I do hope your friend decides to find a midwife. She has her existing family to think about, as well as her unborn child.

No.

I discovered something about my physiology that’ll make a vaginal birth pretty impossible - but only during labour with my first. Thankfully I was rushed off to theatre down the corridor when my baby was in distress. It’s not as uncommon as it sounds despite the likes of free birthers arguing we were all made to birth. But many women throughout history aren’t quite ‘made’ perfectly it’d seem (including me) and many have died in childbirth.

What even is a free birth??

I had both DC in hospital. If I’d have been at home with DS1 I’d have bled to death. My delivery was easy but afterwards had a huge internal tear. Had to have emergency surgery to stop the bleeding. Delivery suite had a brand new surgery right across the corridor thankfully

Just to add both my boys probably wouldn't have survived without intervention.

And absolutely no bloody way would I free birth or even choose a birth anywhere away from consultant led care.

birth number 1 - baby or me would have most likely died without modern medicine. I had prom plus a PPH plus stuck baby with unstable heart rate. As scary as it is when the room fills up with medical staff, it would be a hell of a lot scarier without them.

birth number 2 - very easy- so much so that I didn’t realise how far along I was until the midwife on the phone was like ‘you’re in transition get her now’. I think the sheer fear of having a baby on route delayed thing's enough to get to the hospital but my husband very nearly missed it parking the car.

Now no.2 could have probably been a home birth but that hasn’t been advised after my previous pph and I wouldn’t have been comfortable rolling the dice. If something goes very wrong with a newborn you don’t have time on your side. Even if you get a cat 1 ambulance within the 8 minute target, that may be too late once you can get the baby to the expert staff in the hospital.

No.. I COMPLETELY understand home births, and I feel really strongly about birth plans etc. I cannot stand the ignorant and uneducated attitudes about mums wanting a ‘perfect birth’ or to be ‘trendy’ etc

But I really can’t get my head round intentionally free birthing :/ Why not have a trusted midwife with you??

I know someone who wanted a home birth because she felt it was the only way to guarantee she’d have a midwife with her throughout the whole thing and not be left labouring on a ward alone. It’s not helping to stigmatise home birth on safety grounds, there can be understandable and not easy to solve reasons why it can feel like the only option for some women. It’s heavily risk assessed and hospitals will advise against them, I was refused one.

As it turned out I would have died without a hospital birth, as would my baby, so free birth seems like absolute madness to me. And what a silly euphemism, a ‘free’ birth compared to what? The medical profession is not out to get women in labour.

Just to add, neither of these were an issue as the midwife’s and doctors dealt with it quickly

Aside from the dangers if it goes wrong... I'm failing to see any advantage, even if it goes right? Surely any of the benefits you would still get with a regular midwife-assisted home birth 🤔

First baby had to be assisted out and second baby I had a large PPH. So no, not something I would ever consider.

Am I being disingenuous for mentioning call the midwife

Childbirth is a big risk for mother and baby.

Forgetting the past and how babies died and mothers died and now more babies and mothers survive?

I'm a big advocate of doing what you think is right for you But ......

My midwives in hospital were amazing. Yes one was a knob, that’s been fed back. But the other 6 I had in the days leading up to the birth (induction, except baby was coming of her own accord anyway) were amazing, and the one who delivered her? Absolutely incredible.

There are some knobs out there, but the vast majority aren’t and they want the best for you and your baby. The one who delivered my little one was incredible. She took everything I said and listened, she informed all the drs and aneasthetist of my needle phobia (serious phobia, had treatment through pregnancy for it organised through the aneasthetist team because it’s that bad) even though we were in a rush as DD was stuck. The aneasthetist I didn’t even know was there until after she’d done the cannula (sat on the floor so I didn’t see).

I’m so grateful to them all. I dread to think what would have happened if I had of been at home, let alone a free birth.

5 Kids in teens, had different experiences, including c-section.
Barely remember any things about the births other than scary things - cord around neck, breech, weird red marks. Not the birth plans of which is best bonding (I laugh now at silliness). Of course the bonding nothing to do with midwife, nurse, c section.

IMO too much emphasis on right or correct or best birth which leads to pointless disappointment. Years later, they delivered healthy all that matters. Looking back birth plans were a busy-work exercise.

This, you have some teeth out, don't bother with painkillers, you're not a real person if you need drugs, I mean have you even had teeth out if you need drugs?

Absolutely not. Even with a home birth there's one or two midwives present and if you need intervention they can get you to the hospital pretty quickly.
I'm going for a natural birth (hypnobirthing) at a midwife led birthing suite, but it's right next to the maternity ward at the hospital, so if anything does go wrong they can help. I don't want medical intervention, but if it saves me or my baby's life I'll take it. I haven't got a birth plan, because things can change in an instant. I have preferences instead.